City Council subcommittee considers shortening walk for Providence students

Thursday

Mar 13, 2014 at 9:43 AM

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Members of the education subcommittee of the City Council agree that no student should have to walk three miles to high school. What remains under debate is the best way to pay for a two-mile limit.

Linda Borg Journal Staff Writer @lborgprojocom

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Members of the education subcommittee of the City Council agree that no student should have to walk three miles to high school. What remains under debate is the best way to pay for a two-mile limit.

High school students are not eligible for a free bus pass unless they live more than three miles from school. Two weeks ago, the Providence Student Union led two dozen city and state leaders on a walk from Mount Pleasant, where the student lives, to Classical High School, that lasted almost 90 minutes.

Sam Zurier, chairman of the education subcommittee, said his committee is mulling several possible solutions. The biggest hurdle is cost: $1.2 million to bus students who live between three and two miles from school — money that RIPTA doesn’t have.

[schoolwalk-poll]

Zurier said his members have a strong desire to reduce the limit to two miles but have also expressed concern about asking the legislature to create an unfunded mandate, which would burden the school district.

Zurier has proposed increasing the city’s contribution to the school budget, adding that the city hasn’t increased its share in three years.

The education subcommittee will discuss this issue again Tuesday and hopes to have a resolution ready for the full council on Thursday.